NASDAQ-100 OPEN

April 3, 2004

Elena Dementieva

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: You know, I was thinking to play pretty much the same game that I play against Venus. But I feel like I was tired today on the court and couldn't move as well as I can. So it was difficult, you know, to be on the court today for me. But I'm satisfied with the results for this tournament, you know. I had, you know, couple very good matches and, you know, I'm glad to be in the final. Maybe I didn't play my best today, but, you know, I'm glad I'm lost so easy because now I'm gonna work better on my serve, I'm gonna improve my game. I mean, she's a great player. You know, just amazing how well she play after this break.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yes.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: To change my toss.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Try to do it little bit in front of me, not behind.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I had a problem with my shoulder and I used to play for a long time with an injured shoulder. That kind of serve, the slice serve, that's the only thing I could do, you know. That's just begin to be a habit for me, a bad habit.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: No, I wasn't nervous at all, you know. I had nothing to lose, and I was already satisfied with the result. So, you know, just a little upset that I was tired, couldn't play as good as I can. But anyway, you know, it was a good tournament for me.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: You know, Serena has a better serve, definitely. She moves better. They play pretty much the same game, you know. I mean, I wouldn't change my plan, you know, by playing against Venus or Serena.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, but, I mean, I wasn't ready for the next shot. I couldn't move as well as I can. That was, you know, the thing.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Where?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: When I was 6-love, 6-love, you mean?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: No, I was injured. But I don't like to retire. I like to play no matter what. Even if I have something, you know, I try to play always.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: What?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: No. No, it wasn't. I mean, that's good that she beat me so easily, like I said. Because now I'm gonna work better, you know. I'm gonna improve my game. You know, I realize if I want to win a tournament, even a Grand Slam, I have to be stronger, you know, I have to play better in a final and not like today. I don't need to be tired, you know, in this final round, the most important moment of the tournament.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: It's unbelievable to me, you know. It's unbelievable. She was, you know, very strong on the court, moving well. She had a couple problems, you know, in the beginning of the tournament, and maybe in the second round. But, I mean, she came through very strong and, you know, she's a great player.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Who, Justine's game?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Why are you asking me this question (laughing)? She is not in the final.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: She has to play her to see how well she is, I don't know.